Whoever coined the phrase “fun and games” must have been a minor league sports fan.

Maine’s minor league teams are great sources of family entertainment, blending a lot of fun with the actual games. There’s music and mascots, teddy bear tosses and towel giveaways. Plus you get to scream with hundreds — or thousands — of new friends, sip beer, dine on nachos and hot dogs and maybe see a fight or two.

Right now it’s winter sports season in Maine. We’re lucky enough in southern and central Maine to have several teams to cheer for, including the Maine Mariners hockey team and Maine Celtics basketball team in Portland, along with the Maine Nordiques in Auburn and Lewiston Maineiacs in Lewiston. The Mariners and Celtics are professional minor league teams, meaning their players aren’t too far removed from making it to the NHL or NBA. The others play junior hockey, with rosters filled with 17- to 20-year-olds hoping for bigger things.

Also this winter there’s a new junior hockey team playing in southern Maine, the Connecticut Chiefs North, which is owned by another team based in Newington, Connecticut. That team has games scheduled at Biddeford Ice Arena as well as at the University of Southern Maine’s arena in Gorham.

Here’s a little bit about each team and what their games offer to fans.

Maine Mariners

Cross Insurance Arena, 1 Civic Center Square, Portland. marinersofmaine.com

The Mariners are a professional team just two rungs below the NHL, and affiliated with the Boston Bruins. So that means the Mariners you watch today could be in the NHL tomorrow (or two years from now).

Most games there’s some promotion or contest to get fans involved. There’s a “Throwback Night” on Sunday, with $10 tickets and a team autograph session. And every Sunday is a “Sunday Fun Day” with cornhole, a putting green and face painting on the concourse.

The next teddy bear toss event is Dec. 6. Patrons are asked to bring a new or lightly used stuffed animal to the game and toss it onto the ice when the first Mariners’ goal is scored, to be scooped up and donated to Toys for Tots. Hundreds of teddy bears flying through the air is a sight not to be missed. Also that day there’s a free winter beanie for the first 1,000 fans. See the full schedule of promotions and giveaways, including bobble heads and foam tridents, on the Mariners’ website. Advance prices range from $20 to $32, plus fees when purchased through Ticketmaster.

Maine Celtics

Portland Expo, 239 Park Ave., Portland. maine.gleague.nba.com

Another pro team, the Celtics are a developmental team of the Boston Celtics. So you really could see a player here today and there tomorrow. The team plays in the historic city-owned Expo, which opened in 1915.

As if basketball isn’t fast-moving enough, there’s also the Maine Hype Team, a precision dance team, to provide more fast-moving entertainment when the ball is not in play. The team’s mascot, a green lobster named Crusher, often joins in the fun. Team members also help out with on-court contests. There’s a light show and music at every game as well as some sort of halftime performance, including national acts like Red Panda or The Zooperstars.

Some upcoming game promotions include a visit from Santa Claus and a T-shirt giveaway on Dec. 14, a performance by the Frisbee Dogs on Dec. 31 and Fan Appreciation Night on March 22, with a free team poster and an autograph session. Tickets start at $19.

Lewiston Maineiacs

The Colisee, 190 Birch St., Lewiston. lewistonmaineiacshockey.com

The Maineiacs play in a division of the United States Premier Hockey League, and provide a “track to college hockey” for its young players, according to its website. That means you’ll get to see some high-energy hockey and players with young legs. They play in the historic, 4,000-seat Colisee. The great thing about junior hockey is that it’s generally a cheap night out. Tickets are $5.45 to $6.48, online. Some promotions include team meet-and-greet sessions, and free tickets in exchange for donating various items. The Mainiacs take on Universal Quebec Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m., at home.

Maine Nordiques

Norway Savings Bank Arena, 985 Turner St., Auburn. nahl.com/teams

The Nordiques play in the North American Hockey League, which has teams as far away as North Dakota and Texas. The next home game is Nov. 26 at 7:15 p.m. against the Northeast Generals, based in Canton, Massachusetts. Tickets start at $5.50 for standing room near the player’s entrance and $10 for bleachers. Season ticket holders get discounts on Nordiques merchandise and have access to game-used gear giveaways.

Connecticut Chiefs North

Biddeford Ice Arena, 14 Pomerleau St., Biddeford. ctchiefshockey.com/teams/ncdc

This is a new team, owned by another team based in Connecticut, that just started playing in Maine this year. It plays in the same conference as the Maineiacs, with games scheduled in Biddeford and at the University of Southern Maine rink in Gorham, according to the league schedule online. The team’s next scheduled home game is Dec. 19 in Biddeford against the Maineiacs. Ticket prices and other game details could not be found online, and the team did not return a call and email seeking more information.